Comments on: Dictated but Not Read: A Writer’s Perspective on Voice Recognition Software

By: Tom

Tom — Sat, 29 May 2010 05:19:59 +0000

Thanks for sharing your experiences with this software. I tried an early version of Dragon speech recognition about ten years ago, thought it a bit shaky, not sugary, but you’ve sold me on the concept all over again. BTW, I found you by way of the Moby blog . . . thought your video was hilarious. Then again, a lot of people thought so. I also just ordered your book. Keep up the good work.

By: Rob

Rob — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 23:03:50 +0000

Thanks for posting this. I read your blog and noticed the post, then broke my arm and decided to buy a copy of MacSpeech.

I’m not sure what I’d be doing if I hadn’t known – probably experiencing a sore left arm and decreased productivity.

By: Sara Aase

Sara Aase — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 21:35:08 +0000

I am in my own head so much that I would probably enjoy using that software just to get myself to talk on days I don’t have interviews. Plus I find that saying things aloud really does clarify what I think, or makes me question what it is I think. That said, check out this article on the blind and what effect audio technologies have had on literacy. I haven’t been able to stop thinking about it:
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/03/magazine/03Braille-t.html

By: Charlie Fletcher

Charlie Fletcher — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 15:48:28 +0000

I’m very happy to have inspired you, and I’m looking forward to reading your future blog posts.

Charlie

By: denniscass

denniscass — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 19:43:56 +0000

Charlie:

You have inspired me to take a deeper look into the program’s capabilities. Since I’m using it every day I need to at least explore the possibility of putting the program to work.

In any case, thanks for the comment and for stopping by the blog.

By: Charlie Fletcher

Charlie Fletcher — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 18:48:18 +0000

I too have been using MacSpeech Dictate for many years (and also iListen before MSD). My writing is more on the technical side, being that I’m a medical writer reporting on new drugs.

Unlike you, I utilize the training and editing features extensively during the writing process. I like to dictate the same way I write, and I don’t find it to be cumbersome at all. After a bit of corrections, MSD has learned my pronunciation and is extremely accurate. Most often, the only things I have to train are new terms, such as the names of new medications. Once those are added to MSD’s vocabulary, they are almost always recognized 100% of the time.

I’ve also strayed away from my usual beat into writing reviews of casual game software. In this venue, I tend to work more in the way you described, just spewing it all out and then editing later. However, because I’ve been dedicated in correcting (training) MSD, accuracy is quite high.

The only exception in MSD’s accuracy in my experience has been when I am tired or in a hurry. That’s when my diction deteriorates and MSD has trouble understanding me.

Great review. Thanks for posting on my favorite piece of software.

By: warriorwriters

warriorwriters — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 19:14:27 +0000

Great blog. I love the idea of using this software to “take notes.” I do best when I can think “aloud.” I have to verbalize to work through problems–blame it on being a girl. This is a great way to do just that AND have WRITTEN notes to work with once I’m ready to type.

By: denniscass

denniscass — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 20:24:16 +0000

@Claudia: I like “sugary” too. There have been other times when I’ve have to reach past the word I wanted and found something I liked. It’s also worked the other way, too. So you take the salt with the sugary on that one.

By: Cat

Cat — Sat, 26 Dec 2009 18:54:05 +0000

Very encouraging words for those of us who have intermittent wrist problems and are looking to the future.

By: Shawn

Shawn — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 04:50:50 +0000

I have been a user of Dragon NaturallySpeaking for a couple of years now and I absolutely love it. In fact, the last two drafts of my novel have been composed almost entirely by using it. Editing does get a little tricky but I’ve fallen into a kind of rhythm where I use the software in conjunction with the mouse and keyboard.

By: Claudia

Claudia — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 22:16:49 +0000

I love ‘sugary’ forearms. ‘Sweet, delicate’ is funny, but ‘sugary’ caught me so by surprise it made me laugh out loud. So then, happy software serendipity!